Lee Favors Iraq Pullout, Rejects Bush Budget

OAKLAND—Rep. Barbara Lee delivered her third annual State of the District address Monday night, calling for a speedy withdrawal from Iraq and provisions for public services that she said cannot be funded by the budget outlined by President George W. Bush.

Addressing a crowd of more than 300 residents of the 9th district, which includes Berkeley, Lee, a Democrat, said social interests have suffered as a consequence of “reckless foreign policy” and that she views the Democratic majority in Congress as a mandate to push for progressive legislation.

“Government has a responsibility to improve the lives of those it serves,” she said at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building. “That begins with a government that works for everyone, not just the wealthy or well-connected.”

Lee said she rejects the budget proposed by Bush, which she said slashes Medicaid and eliminates more than 40 educational programs while providing tax cuts for the wealthy. She pledged to use her position on the House Appropriations Committee to fight poverty and inequality in education.

Lee, who cast the lone dissenting vote in either house on the 2001 war in Afghanistan, said she favors a bill that would fully fund military withdrawal from Iraq within six months. The bill would also repeal the authorization of force in that country and provide veterans with physical and mental health benefits.

“For those of us who opposed the war from the beginning, the nation now stands with us,” Lee said. “We must end this occupation and bring our troops home now.”

Lee also said she supports dialogue with Iran and Syria and stands behind a measure that would prevent the use of funds for covert regime change in Iran in the absence of an imminent threat.

Long an activist in the fight against HIV/AIDS in minority communities, Lee said she will push for comprehensive sex education and will host U2 frontman and international activist Bono next week in Oakland to raise the campaign’s profile.

Lee also stressed increased involvement in the Darfur crisis, touting legislation she reintroduced that promotes divestment and “bans federal contracts from going to companies whose business is supporting the genocide” in Sudan.

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates admires the vision outlined by Lee, said his assistant, Ariana Casanova, who attended the address.

“The mayor is very supportive of the agenda (Lee) has outlined on Iraq and her larger vision about poverty and economic opportunity,” Casanova said.

Supporters said Lee promotes legislation that benefits Bay Area youth.

“She understands the ideas of the youth that are not listened to,” said Andrew Simmons, 18, a member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center in Oakland, which promotes nonviolence to at-risk youth. “We’re tomorrow’s leaders.”

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